Spotashark

Your photos will help identify and protect sand tiger sharks.

How it works

Photograph a Shark

Every shark has a unique spot pattern on each flank. A photo can be matched to another photo of the same flank. Or your shark may be a new addition to our database.

Submit a photo

You can upload files from your computer, or take them directly from your Flickr or Facebook account. Be sure to enter when and where you saw the shark and add any other information about sex of the shark or visible scars. You will receive email updates when your shark is processed by a researcher or matched in the future.

Researcher verification

After you upload your shark photo, a researcher reviews the information you submitted. Once the spots on your shark are mapped, we can search for matching spot patterns on other sharks. If we don’t find a match, your shark will be given a new, unique ID.

Matching process

Spot patterns on the shark’s flanks are matched using complex algorithms that calculate the distances between spots. The algorithm is like facial recognition software for sharks. This technique is adapted from algorithms that were used to map and recognize.

Match Result

Computer vision provides researchers with a ranked selection of possible shark matches. Researchers will then visually confirm a match to an existing shark in the database, or create a new shark profile. At this stage, you will receive an update email.

Our contributors

Carol Price
NC Aquariums

Engaging divers as citizen scientists is providing valuable information about sand tiger sharks including insights into their habitat needs, social structure, migratory patterns and reproductive cycles.